Archive for June, 2014

It is with sadness and repudiation that Monty and the Join-Up International Organization have watched the show on Brazilian broadcast TV Record last night, with severe accusations on our image and reputation. Whereas all legal actions are being taken immediately, there are some important facts we would like to make public:

– Monty Roberts is a 79 year old professional and has been working with horses for more than 70 years in about 30 countries in the world. About 3000 public demonstrations have been already given with more than 11 thousand horses worked in his career. 100% of the demonstrations have been photographed or filmed by at least one person in the audience. There is not a single scene in Monty Roberts’ entire life that shows Monty Roberts beating or treating a horse badly.

– Monty Roberts has been to Brazil more than 5 times and have given more than 10 public demonstrations in the country for thousands of people. There has not been a single complaint regarding any animal that has participated in these demonstrations.

– Monty Roberts does not travel with a film crew. All filming is done by the organizers of the events where Monty Roberts participates. All the footage presented on TV Record´s show was filmed by the Mangalarga Association Staff. Monty Roberts only asked the professionals that were filming the scene to show the cruelty that was being made to the animal, as he wanted to possess material that could show people how harsh the traditional methods still are in many regions all around the world.

– Monty didn’t instruct the people dealing with the horse as to how they should have done their method. Everything they have done came from their personal experience and knowledge. It was incorrect of the reporter when he says that Monty is asking the men in the arena to tie the horse in the pole. Monty is pointing to the pole for the videographer not to miss this scene of cruelty. This can be verified in the original, unedited film.

– Everything would have been done anyway, as it was scheduled to happen by the organization, without any recording being saved. It was Monty Roberts who had the courage to ask for everything to be recorded so that it could be proven how horses are started in this harsh way.

– There was a veterinarian requested by Monty Roberts, and there is no truth in the fact that the horse has died after the demonstration.

– The horses were being kept in dozens of confined in tiny pens with bad footing (made of sharp rocks), and Monty complained to the organization about that.

– It’s partially true that Monty could have jumped in the pen and tried to stop the action. It might have been a mistake not to do it. At the same time, one has to think that Monty was not in charge of the demonstration, is a 79 year old man who doesn’t speak Portuguese and was invited to watch. It is also true that almost a hundred people were watching the scene and not only no one tried to stop it, but cheering can be heard when the horse fell on the ground after being beaten. This was not shown on the edited video of last night’s show.

– Monty was given no chance to show his side of the facts. The reporter sent an email to Monty Roberts saying that they wanted to talk about the Join-Up method because there was many people who loved the latest TV report done about the method (the email is in the possession of Monty Roberts). There was a call then last Thursday, only a few days before the broadcasting of the show, with a completely different approach, clearly aiming to put Monty Roberts on the criminal side of the story. After that Monty Roberts has tried to reach TV Record many times through his representatives in Brazil to show his side of the facts, and no phone call has been returned.

It’s a sad day. For Monty, for his cause, and mainly for the horses. As stated, all legal measures are being taken. Monty has a deep admiration for Brazil, for its people, and how they are learning a new way to relate with horses. He thanks everyone for the supportive messages he has been receiving, and apologizes to people who are feeling betrayed after seeing these disturbing facts. He will do everything in his reach to bring the true facts public.

By Debbie Roberts-Loucks and Dr. Susan Cain, authors of Life Lessons From The Man who Listens to Horses

It is finally summer, and that means that more people will be here in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, touring Flag Is Up Farms!

This month we hosted a great evening program called Night of Inspiration, featuring Monty’s signature Join-Up event, followed by a superb barbeque cookout. Over 45 people attended this great event–which was casual and at the same time very exciting. After watching a Join-Up® in Monty’s specially built round pen with viewing deck, the group headed to Monty and Pat Robert’s home atop the farm. There, they meet personally with Monty, Pat and their family, and enjoy a cocktail and dinner amid the signed photographs of the Queen of England and Pat’s award winning sculptures. It sounds like a commercial, but people who attend can’t say enough about how touched they are by the personal impact.

The next day, we held an intimate workshop called Life Lessons From The Man Who Listens To Horses. This full-day session is like an intimate book reading, a behind the scenes look at the famous stories from Monty’s original book- which spent over a year on the New York Times Best Selling list.

In this deeply personal session, participants get a chance to delve into the “back stories” in Monty’s fascinating life journey. We apply lessons learned, and think about our own lives and our own learning opportunities.

One of the session participants, Marsha Mantzoros, wrote this note about her experience:

“To you, Debbie, Monty, Pat & Laurel, thank you so much for allowing us an inside look at your life & home (stables). The small group allowed for a closer intimacy between all & I truly valued Monty’s ability especially to relay his private story. Sharing where we’ve been & what we’ve done allows comparison to all that we have become and/ or will become. A humble success story. What I regretted not asking Monty, as he goes through some struggles of his own, is how can we assist him & add to his life? What does he want from us??? How can we (I) help? Thanks again for a wonderful day.”

After receiving Marsha’s letter, we asked Marsha to tell us more about her experience. The resulting response is below:

“On June 1, 2014 I was blessed and grateful to be able to attend a seminar with Monty Roberts on his beautiful, peaceful ranch in Solvang, California. Living all my life on the East Coast, I never raised my head to notice this extraordinary Cowboy from the west who was doing wonders with horses in a way that I would have very much appreciated to

know about. So here I am in my 60’s, now living in California, and finally paying attention to a man worth paying attention to! The Life Lessons event on Sunday was beautiful, inspiring and fun. Pat Roberts, Debbie, Laurel (Roberts) and Sue Cain were all there to contribute to the day. Because of the small group, it was all up close & personal. All our questions and observations were addressed.

I came away feeling totally fulfilled, and that I am now on a path that would lead me forward with more insight and compassion for our giving, loyal friend, the horse.

Many thanks to the Roberts family and associates for putting this day together, for making us feel welcome and for passing on some valuable horse wisdom that we can carry with us.”

We get these responses from so many people that come away with a sense of renewal from Monty’s workshops. Even reading a Monty book or watching him work online via the Monty Robert’s Online University brings this improbable response on. It’s amazing and gratifying to watch Monty’s impact on people. From our Life Lessons workshop, we have a few tips to share to help you discover lessons taken from the session. Take a look at the personal development tools we introduced at the session here:

Art was a jockey for 21 years prior to becoming a trainer, and I was fortunate to have ridden with him for 7 or 8 of those years. He has been a trainer since 1976. When Monty and Pat directed me to ride in the bay area, I met Art right after I made my comeback. While riding with him, he was often like a mentor to me as I began riding as a journeyman. I learned a great deal from him.

I rode with Art at Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows, Santa Rosa Fair, Stockton, Pleasington Fair, Vallejo, and Sacramento Fair. I am almost positive Art’s son trained a winning horse for Monty. We have had many encounters over the decades. In 2009, Art invited us (while we were in California to see Uncle Bob) to his barn at Santa Anita. We couldn’t go, but is was a nice gesture.

When we first met, Art was 33 years old and I was only 18. He was a miracle man to still be an active jockey, having gone down in a horrific spill (when on the lead in a race and having been trampled by a whole field of horses). We rode together from 1970 to 1976 or 1977. He nicknamed me “Slip-thru LaGue” because I’d sneak through on the rail and beat him once in a while.

He also rode with Nanci’s cousin, David Kassen (former jockey and current Chicago/Florida trainer) who was born and raised in Cincinnati. Nanci and her cousin (Kassen) both graduated from the same Cincinnati High School. Art and David go way back as best friends. They rode together near our home here at old Latonia and other local race courses, during which time they hung out together with hall of fame jockey Donny Brumfield. According to Nanci, those three frequently hit the strip clubs in Newport, KY in the 1960’s right across the river from downtown Cincinnati together!

Nanci & I reunited with Art at Churchill Downs in November, 2006. He shipped in from California with his Breeders’ Cup sprint horse, Siren Lure. He requested that I perform the “officially timed workout” for the Daily Racing Form on ESPN for him prior to the event. It was a great honor and my workout was viewed world wide.

Art, Nanci, and I finally realized we had much more in common. Nanci and I were involved with various projects at Churchill Downs at the time we spent two weeks showing Art around Louisville. We spent every afternoon together in the Silks Room at Churchill and had a wonderful visit while reminiscing about the olden days. MOST OF THE MEMORIES LED BACK TO MONTY & PAT AND MY BEGINNING INTO HORSE RACING AT THE FARM. Art is like family to ALL OF US!

We have been sure to stay in touch ever since, exchanging Christmas cards, calling on the phone, and communicating via other correspondence. We spoke with Art after he won the Santa Anita Derby by 9 lengths which guaranteed him a spot in the run for the roses. We also spoke to him at 5 AM Pacific time for half an hour as he was training California Chrome at Los Alamitos (He trains for the owner of that track, so his horse had the track all to himself) just prior to shipping to Louisville in late April for the Kentucky Derby. Art is on cloud nine.